THE PACT OF STEEL BETWEEN GERMANY AND ITALY, MAY 1939

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The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, and Reichminister for Foreign Affairs, Joachim von Ribbentrop, at the ceremonial signing of the 'Pact of Steel' alliance between Germany and Italy in the Ambassadors' Chamber of the new Reichschancellery on 22 May 1939.

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The Second World War was the most destructive conflict in human history. Years of international tension and aggressive expansion by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany culminated in the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.

Military conflict took place during every year of the 20th Century. There were only short periods of time that the world was free of war. The total number of deaths caused by war during the 20th Century has been estimated at 187 million and is probably higher.